KUALA LUMPUR: Explain the government’s stand on the dual language programme (DLP) policy that has created confusion among parents over its implementation in some schools, says Datuk Seri Radzi Jiddin (PN- Putrajaya).

The former education minister said that he had received several complaints from parents in Kuala Lumpur who claimed schools had backtracked on their decision allowing students to study subjects under DLP.

“I received complaints from parents regarding DLP and what I can conclude is that the policy that was communicated through a circular was not clear.

“The parents were promised that their children who entered Standard 1 would be studying under the DLP but were later informed that they will be transferred to a normal programme instead.

“The parents are unclear of the ministry’s direction. The ministry should explain why,” Radzi said during the Budget 2024 debate at the committee level on Monday (Nov 27).

He also said when the schools were asked for clarification, the parents were only told that they were only receiving orders.

“According to the guidelines, if all parents are agreeable to the implementation of DLP, there should be no problem (to implement DLP),” Radzi said in the Dewan Rakyat.

In 2016, some 300 schools were in the DLP pilot project that gave them the option to teach Science and Mathematics in English.

Parents were given the freedom to enrol their children in the programme.

Under DLP, English will be used fully in the teaching and learning of Science, Mathematics, and in the Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics (STEM) subjects.

There are now 2,240 DLP schools in the country comprising 1,613 primary and 807 secondary schools.

The Education Ministry in July said that new schools must fulfil the criteria set to offer DLP.

The criteria include schools having enough resources, the school heads having a plan to make sure the programme is sustainable, parents’ consent being obtained, and schools meeting the minimum Bahasa Malaysia requirement.